Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Kingdom of Heaven "In" You - Part 3

A few more synonyms or equivalencies need to be understood before we can move ahead in our understanding of the great power of God that is in all things. That light, which is the law by which all things are governed, emanates from Him as He sits upon His throne in the bosom of eternity. (D&C 88:13) The light, the power of God, the light of Christ, (D&C 88:7) we have been discussing, fills the immensity of space and is "in," and through, all things.(D&C 88:12-13) Most importantly, it is "in," and through, you. By it, God himself "is in the midst of all things," and yes, that includes you, you are part of "all things."

In the last entry, we learned something about the process by which The Lord Jesus Christ acquired, and controls this magnificent power called The Light of Christ. His acts of ascending up on high, and descending below all things, allowed Him to "comprehend all things, that He might be "in" all and through all things, THE LIGHT OF TRUTH; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ."(D&C 88:6-7) Now, not only has the power of God been called "light," and "law," and "power," (D&C 88:13), it is now revealed that it is also called the light of "truth." We don't normally, in our way of reckoning, think of "truth" as being a tangible substance. We more often think of "truth" as being a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like. Interesting, isn't it, that the revelations refer to The light of Christ as "the light of truth." And that, "(this) truth "shineth."" Truth, we are told here, has a substantive quality by which it "shineth." "Truth," then, in the context of it being synonymous with The Spirit of Christ, appears to be substantive. Why?

This verity is further born out by a revelation Joseph Smith recorded in April, 1832. It was revealed to Joseph:

"For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For thewordof the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth islight, and whatsoever is light isSpirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:44-45)

This revelation makes "truth," and "light," and "spirit" equivalent. Most of us can conceive of light and spirit being able to "shine," these verses may help us understand how it is that truth may also have the ability to "shine." The Lord revealed: "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. Allspiritis matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purereyes; We cannotseeit; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." (D&C 131:7-8) Truth "shineth" because it is light, and light is spirit, and spirit is matter. The Lord said:

"...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

No wonder then, He commands us to "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For thewordof the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth islight, and whatsoever is light isSpirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:44-45)

The Lord declares in another place:

"The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth..." (D&C 93:26)

All of these wonderful truths amalgamate in the magnificent truth taught by Joseph Smith in the Lectures on Faith:

"And he (the Lord Jesus) being the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father-possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things." (Lectures on Faith - Lecture 5)

God is in the midst of you, and all things. (D&C 88:13) The combined mind of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit that permeates all of earth and space. It is in all, and through all things. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you should have begun by now to see and understand in what way it is that God is "in" you.

"The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye haveseenme, that I am, and that I am the truelightthat is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound." (D&C 88:49-50)

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" (D&C 93:2)

Just how far then does one need to go to do the will of the Father and receive the Son? (JST John 6:44) How great a distance is required for you to go to "see" the Son? (John 6:40) How far does He need to go to come to you in order that you may receive Him?